Diagnostic Considerations

Streptococcal pharyngitis is most commonly caused by group A streptococci (45%) and anaerobes (18%), which often occur as a co-infection.

Much of the concern about diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis is related to the complications of infection, particularly acute rheumatic fever and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis as a late complication. Therefore, maintaining a high level of suspicion for streptococci group A in the presence of pharyngitis is advisable.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Drugs. Use of codeine- and dextromethorphan-containing cough remedies in children. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Drugs. Pediatrics. 1997 Jun. 99(6):918-20. [Medline].